Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
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T.J. Zizzo Champion Packaging Torco Fuels Top Fueler |
Reports: Sunday Saturday Friday Pre-race |
Indianapolis, Sunday: Rookie driver T.J. Zizzo and the Champion Packaging/Torco Racing Fuel Top Fuel dragster qualified for the 50th annual U.S. Nationals. Zizzo masterfully piloted his Top Fuel dragster to the 13th spot on the ladder at the legendary golden anniversary of the Big Go at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
"It's a great honor to qualify as part of the top sixteen and especially as part of this historic event in the 50th annual U.S. Nationals but I want more," Zizzo said. "I am extremely happy that we are able to be in Mondays big go but we need to win tomorrow.
"To tell you the truth, going into the last round of qualifying in the 11th position I was getting very concerned that we might not make it in the show. The cloud cover was moving in and it began to cool slightly therefore, I thought the twelve or so drivers ahead of us would step it up and bump us out, lucky we only moved down a couple of spots. Once we got to the starting line it was a great feeling knowing that we were already qualified for our first U.S. Nationals."
The Zizzo Racing team laid down yet another 4.7 qualifying performance and qualified thirteenth on the ladder for its forth-consecutive round of eliminations. The team's philosophy of being methodical and consistent seems to have paid off by placing them in the biggest event in the young team's history.
"We are here with the world's fastest Top Fuel dragsters and I am amazed that we are able to place ours in the thirteenth spot on the ladder in a very respectable position," said team owner Tony Zizzo Sr. "I am living my dream through my son competing as a professional at the U.S. Nationals, it is truly a dream come true.
"It has not settled in that we have qualified for the 50th annual U.S. Nationals and I do not feel like we are underdogs going into the round of eliminations. I feel that we went out this weekend and kept to our game plan by putting up very good consistent numbers on each of our passes.
"Our goal for tomorrow is to get by this first-round loser business and advance to at least the second round. We look forward running against and outstanding team in Doug Herbert in the first round tomorrow."
Zizzo will face off against Doug Herbert and the Snap-on Tools Top Fueler in the first round of eliminations.
Indianapolis, Saturday: T.J. Zizzo piloted the Champion Packaging/Torco Racing Fuel Top Fuel dragster to the 11th position after the third round of qualifying in the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The Zizzo Racing team's dragster was shut down at the tree by the NHRA for an observed mechanical problem during the start of their second round of qualifying.
"The first run of the second day was a little disappointing, we made a mistake in the pits that cost us at the line," Zizzo said. "We are a new young team and we are going to make some mistakes. It was a small simple miss in the assembly process. We could of used this pass to give us valuable information with respect to our tune up for the third round."
The Zizzo Racing team did not loose any ground to the field and remained in the 11th position going into the third round.
"We really planned on standing on the car for the night session," said Zizzo. "I was real comfortable with the car. It went right through nice and smooth but I expected a little more out of the Champion Packaging/Torco Racing Fuels Top Fuel dragster. We will gladly take the .70 and try to improve on it tomorrow."
The Zizzo Racing team will try to qualify for its forth-consecutive round of eliminations and become part history at this golden anniversary event
Indianapolis, Friday: T.J. Zizzo piloted the Champion Packaging/Torco Racing Fuel Top Fuel dragster to the 8th position in the first round of qualifying in the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Friday's single pass is only one of five scheduled runs for the three days of qualifying to open the golden anniversary event.
Zizzo powered his Top Fuel dragster to 4.721 seconds at 308.28 mph.
"We were looking to go out and run a .70 and we ran a .72," said Zizzo. "We were not going to try to overpower the track on our first pass. The plan was just to get it down the track a get a good baseline run to build on.
"From the start, I was with the car the whole time and never got behind it. At all times I felt I knew where I was on the racetrack and where the car wanted to go. It was a perfect run from a driver's standpoint. Tomorrow we will step on it a little bit on our next run and in the evening we will really put the nails to the car and blow the tires off it and see what this bad boy can do."
The Zizzo Racing team has its Top Fuel dragster in the top half of the field on the opening day of qualifying. The team will try to fortify their position for the second day of qualifying at the Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Indianapolis, pre-race: Rookie driver T.J. Zizzo and his Champion Packaging/Torco Racing Fuel Top Fuel dragster prepare for the biggest event in is young racing career at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The Labor Day weekend event is the 18th stop on the POWERade Drag Racing Series and marks the golden anniversary of this annual event.
"This is the most important event of my racing career," said Zizzo. "I have been looking forward to this event for quite sometime and now it is finally here. The magnitude of the annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in itself overshadows all the other national events.
"As a Top Alcohol competitor, I have always wanted to race at the U.S. Nationals and unfortunately we have never had the budget. Therefore, I am thankful to my sponsors for giving me the opportunity to compete in this historic event.
"Being that it is the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, I am honored to be competing for my sponsors, family, crew members and everyone involved. The bottom line is that I want to leave Indy on Monday with the piece of mind that I gave it my absolute best effort and did not let down those people close to me.
"With a newborn at home, going to Indy will be like a vacation. Don't get me wrong, I love my little girl but I will probably get more sleep this weekend than I have had in the past month. My wife even asked if she could drive the racecar to get away"
The Zizzo racing team father and son combination have visited the Indianapolis Raceway Park on several occasions. In 1986 team owner Tony Zizzo Sr. qualified second at the U.S. Nationals in the Top Alcohol dragster class. In 1991 T.J. Zizzo acquired his Top Alcohol license at this facility.
"In my 24 years of drag racing, this is by far my biggest event ever," said Zizzo Sr. "Not only is it our first U.S. Nationals as a professional Top Fuel team, but it is the 50th anniversary of this monumental event. One year ago, we did not even know how to start a Top Fuel dragster and now here we are competing in the U.S. Nationals. I am overwhelmed by the progress we have made.
"We made some minor mistakes at the Lucas Oil Nationals that we were able to correct. The crew members have trained and now have the confidence and concentration to be at the top of their game. Many of the other teams have tested here last week so we are at somewhat of a disadvantage. We have not thrown everything at this Champion Packaging/Torco Racing Fuel hot rod. However, that will change Friday evening, where we plan on stepping on the car pretty hard. This would be a great place to go a few rounds for the first time in this team's history. I look forward to becoming part of history and part of the elite fleet.
"There were a couple of situations going on with my son's life during the race at Brianerd. His daughter was in the hospital in intensive care at the time of the event. In addition there were parts of Schumacher's belt being thrown at him while he was staging, considering the pressure he was under I felt he came through with flying colors."
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